Barbara P. Mackey

Barbara P. Mackey (nee Porretta) age 78 of Cedar Brook, NJ, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

Barbara was born in Philadelphia, PA on December 23, 1944, to Peter and Phyllis Porretta. She lived her formative years in Philadelphia graduating from St. Maria Goretti High School in 1962. After graduation, Barbara attended business school later taking a position at Mobile Oil where she worked for 5 years. She met the love of her life, William C. Mackey also of Philadelphia when she was only 14 years old. Barbara married her childhood sweetheart on October 14, 1967. They moved to NJ and started their family. While raising three children, together with her husband, Bill, they opened a delicatessen in Hammonton, NJ where they had a successful catering business for over 10 plus years. Simultaneously, Barbara also began to work at St. Joseph School as a secretary to the principal where she was affectionally known as Aunt Barb to all the students who adored her. Barbara took that position at St. Joseph’s in order to be involved in the lives of her 3 children. She was there for 15 years. Upon the last graduating child, she left St. Joseph’s School and transitioned to the Winslow Twp. Board of Education. She worked with the Superintendent of Schools for over 25 years where she later retired.

To know Barbara, was to know that she exuded nothing but LOVE. She always had a smile on her face and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for others. She was truly altruistic and would give the shirt off her back to those in need. What was hers, was yours. Her home was always open to everyone. She was a devoted wife to Bill for 56 years of marriage, a doting mom mom to her grandchildren and loving mother to her children who affectionally called her, Babs. She was incredibly talented and creative. She made wedding cakes, painted, cooked, crocheted, sewed and threw parties like nobody’s business. She loved to entertain. As an Italian, you couldn’t come to Barbara’s house without having a full course meal and you would always leave with a doggy bag of goodies. She loved the beach, loved to cook, and loved her friends, but most importantly, she loved her family. To remember Barbara is to remember her beautiful spirit that brought light and love to all who knew her. Her legacy of unconditional love transcends death and will continue live in her name carried out by those she loved so dearly.

Barbara is predeceased by her parents Peter and Phyllis (nee Arcidiacono) Porretta and her brother Joseph Porretta (Josephine).

Barbara is survived by her loving husband William C. Mackey, her children, Cheryl Arpa (David), Kristin Mackey, William “Bill” Mackey Jr., and her sister, Carolyn Garvin (Bob). She is the loving grandmother to Cassadie Arpa, Courtney Arpa, Greyson Mackey, and Karston Mackey. Barbara is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Tuesday, February 28th, 2022 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N Third St. Hammonton, NJ 08037. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30am Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish-St. Joseph Church, corner of French and Third St. Hammonton, NJ 08037. Burial will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 248 S 1St Rd. Hammonton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Animal Aid USA 200 Springdale Lane Williamstown, NJ 8094 https://animalaidusa.org/ or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 https://www.stjude.org/donate